Choose one Web 2.0 platform discussed
during module two and analyse the extent to which this platform has changed the
way people communicate and collaborate.
In
the 21st century, everything has achieved another higher level in
our daily life and the technology of internet amazed us with the advanced web
2.0 technologies. Since the centuries
ago, human communicate with the traditional medium to deliver message and the
communication between each others were simple but non-efficient and less interesting.
After the Web0.0 which is the development and invention of internet, the Web1.0
launched and succeeds to gain the public intentions. Web 1.0 refers to the first stage in the World Wide
Web, which was entirely made up of Web pages connected by hyperlinks.(Janssen,n.d.) But before 1999, Web1.0 was the Read-Only static
website or homepage where there were only static images and information. There was
no space of interactive content hence there was no directly communication
online. According to Tim
Berners-Lee the first implementation of the web, representing the Web 1.0,
could be considered as the “read-only web.” In other words, the early web
allowed users to search for information and read it. There was very little in
the way of user interaction or content contribution. (Fleerackers,n.d.) Web1.0 was connected with wires while Web2.0 connects
with wireless which Web2.0 is much convinient than Web1.0. Hence, Web2.0 as the
Read-Write interactive dynamic web works faster compared to Web1.0 since Web1.0
supported by dial-up services and Web2.0 supported by broadband. Obviosuly, the
dynamic Web2.0 works a lot better and faster compared to the static Web1.0.
Youtube is chosen as the Web 2.0 platform in
this essay because it is the largest and the most popular online video
destination in the world. It launched in 2005, which is only 10 years old until
now! What are the reasons of the fast growing of Youtube? Not to deny that
Youtube gives a large impact and influence on our daily lives. But how does Youtube
changed the way people communicate and collaborate? The Youtube founders, Chad
and Steve were the employees in Paypal, California. They noticed a small problem: there was an
explosion in the number of expensive and inexpensive ways to capture video but
there wasn't a good way to share videos. On
Valentine's Day 2005, Chad registered the trademark, logo and domain of YouTube
and in May of 2005, a small group of early employees launched the beta test
site www.youtube.com. (A Brief History of
YouTube, 2010) Youtube is the Web2.0 platform which mainly allow public to
share videos on the site. The users can upload their vlogs, videos, music
videos and any video format file to Youtube and there is a statistic management
on the channels. The views are labelled clearly below the videos. They can
subscribe to other’s channels if they are intersted in it. Subscriptions are
the prove of the interactive and partipatory culture where Web1.0 can’t do.
Compared to the Web1.0,
Web2.0 allow the visitors to add, contribute and change the information.
Youtube provided the channel to public to uploads (contribute) any videos to
their own channels. The users have the right to manage and edit their own
accounts on the spot. When Google
acquired YouTube in October of 2006 and finalized the deal in November (When did Google acquire YouTube and for how much?,
2010) , it helps Youtube to enlarge its market whereby Google combined
few Web2.0 platform to converge to a better and stronger platform. Web2.0
provides dynamic information and interactive content between publisher and the
visitor where the Youtube community is getting stronger and the participatory
culture can be easily seen. The Youtube users called themselves Youtubers as
well as an online identity Big company even started to look for talents on
Youtube. The best example is Justin Bieber, he was first seen on YouTube and was discovered by Scooter Braun, now his manager.
After that, Braun scheduled a meeting between Justin and Usher. Soon after,
Bieber signed under the recording outfit owned by Braun and Usher, Raymond
Braun Media Group (RBMG). (mjtalentsearch, 2010)
Youtube as the Web2.0 enables the public to contact and interact with the users
in the comments hub below the videos.
When we created an account in
Youtube and it links back to Google and Gmail since Google acquisitions Youtube.
Web2.0 allows websites to merge and Youtube channel is one of the popular
social media. Youtube channel is powerful where the users can check all the
views and comments by other visitors. They can share out the videos from
Youtube (original source) to other social media, such as Facebook, Twitter,
Google+, LinkedIn and more. They can embed the videos depends on their
favourite or email them to anyone. The best part about this Web2.0 is the users
can just share the videos to any channels while the Web1.0 doesn’t even allow
the users to like or share the videos. The LIKE and DISLIKE button below the
videos allow the visitors to review the quality of the videos. The comments
below from other visitors allow them to refer and interact. They can exchange
their opinions and ideas based on the videos. The comments can translate into
the languages that understand by the visitors. There is notification when the
video achieve a high number of clicks and views. The number of subscribers
showed beside the Subscribe button. After subscribe the channel, there will be
notifications deliver to the user if there is any updates of the channels.
Hence, the subscribers will never miss the latest videos and updates. Web1.0 is
just a plain and flat platform for the visitors to visit but there will be no
notification to remind about the new release.
Youtube becomes the best platform to
look for ideas and talents as reference. Before the launching of Web2.0, only
publisher have the power to create and contribute to the website. The publisher
can’t edit and modify the content on the stop to update it since Web1.0 have no
ability to change and modify the content. But in Youtube, the channel owner can
update the information anytime and anywhere as long as they have internet with
them. Youtube even allow the users to edit video with filters, colour
corrections, audio mixers and other effects during the uploading process. The subtitles
and pop-up text can be add on in the video in a very short time. Web2.0 makes
online editing easier and faster to produce better videos. In Web2.0, the owner
of channel can manage the accounts whereby he or she can choose what to show
and what to hide. There are choices of public, unlisted and private where can
be choose based on the owner’s privacy. Youtube users can import the videos
from other Google linked accounts and share to any linked accounts. At the same
time, Youtube turns into a platform for advertising and online business. Flexible web design, creative reuse, updates, collaborative content
creation and modification were facilitated through web 2.0. One of outstanding
features of web 2.0 is to support collaboration and to help gather collective
intelligence rather web 1.0. (Nematbakhsh, Farsani, & Aghaei, 2012)
Youtube is the best example to gather collective intelligence where the fans of
the same artist can have their fans pages together while the Youtubers can have
cross-over without the boundaries of languages, countries and races. Those who are
with the same hobbies and interests may compile their efforts together and
produce something greater. Youtube can be a very good channel to connect people
to make friends and earn money and profits at the same time. In Web2.0, there
are more interesting dynamic elements on the website
As a conclusion, in the world of Web2.0, the publisher
can be anyone while everyone can edit and modify the content. Youtube as the
Web2.0 platform functions not only a platform to view videos but everyone but
not artists only can upload their self-make videos online. Web2.0 raised the
participatory culture and the collective intelligence since it allows any users
to contribute but not read only. This makes the users to interact more with the
publishers or other users. Web2.0 is obviously much interesting compared to the
static Web1.0 which just able to view only and less efficient in communication.
Web3.0 is coming up soon which might replace Web2.0 just like how Web1.0 been
replaced. The internet technology plays the important role in our daily lives communication.
The power of internet technology might getting advanced but the technology
should be spend well to avoid any social issues like piracy of ownerships.
Bibliography
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